He said:

“It has been reported that al-Hasan said, ‘Upright faith means pilgrimage to the House.’ This shows that he meant Islam. Likewise, al-Dahhāk and al-Suddī reportedly explained ‘upright in faith’ as ‘pilgrims,’ while Mujāhid explained ‘upright in faith’ as ‘followers.’”

He said:

“All of this shows that upright faith is Islam.”

He said:

“Most scholars say that a hanīf is one who is sincere. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:

‘Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but was upright in faith, a Muslim.’

And He says:

‘The religion of your father Abraham. He named you Muslims before.’

There is therefore no basis for rejecting the version which reads, ‘upright in faith, as Muslims.’

The poet al-Rā‘ī said: